Detachable screen

ABSTRACT

A detachable, flexible screen is disclosed. The screen is generally employed in protecting garages, porches, terraces and summer houses from annoying pests. The screen can be detachably secured either from outside or inside the protected area.

United States Patent 1 Antinone Oct. 9, 1973 DETACHABLE SCREEN [76] Inventor: Ernest Antinone, 207 Waldorf Ave.,

Rochester, NY. 14606 [22] Filed: May 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 255,621

[52] U.S. Cl. 160/354, 160/368 R [51] Int. Cl A4711 3/00 [58] Field of Search 160/354, 368, 349,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,246,663 6/1941 Bradshaw 160/368 R X 10/1961 Norton 160/385 X 3,251,399 5/1966 Grossman 160/368 R X 3,480,069 11/1969 Handwerker 160/368 R X 3,684,608 8/1972 Schmitz et a1. 160/349 X Primary ExaminerMervin Stein Assistant Examiner-Phillip C. Kannan Attorney-Myron B. Kurtzman et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A detachable, flexible screen is disclosed. The screen is generally employed in protecting garages, porches,

terraces and summer houses from annoying pests. The screen can be detachably secured either from outside or inside the protected area.

13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FIG 3 F/GI 2 DETACHABLE SCREEN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to detachable, flexible screens. In one aspect, this invention relates to detachable, flexible screens which can be detachably secured with ease to the frames of opening and entrances. In another aspect, this invention relates to detachable flexible screens which can be detachably secured to the frames of garage entrances and without removing the entire screen allows for easy access into and out of the garage.

In a vast number of homes, the garages are employed as morethan a parking facility for an automobile. Many home-owners, particularly during the warm season, employ their garage as a work room, as a cook-out and dining area, as an entertainment area for adults and as a play area for children. During the warm seasons, however, there is a prevalence of flies, bees, wasps, mosquitoes and the like. The bugs and insects would naturally be attracted to those present in the garage as well as to any food odors emanating therefrom. In order to protect the inside of the garage and those therein from annoying insects and other pests, it has been known to employ screens which cover the entranceways to the garages.

The screens presently employed cause several problems, for example, screens mounted in rigid frames and inserted in the entranceway are cumbersome to handle, especially for children, the rigid frames ofteninterfere with the closing of rolldown garage doors, and once the frames are in place, entering into the garage either by an individual or by the driven automobile becomes extremely difficult. Before the automobile can be driven into the garage, the rigidly mounted screen must be removed which often may be a difficult task for young people and women. Should the garage not have an extra walk-through doorway such rigidly mounted screens become an inconvenience.

Screens involving zipper systems whereby the screens are zippered into place over a garageway entrance are subject to the known weakness of zippers, for example, once a small portion of the zipper is damaged, the entire zipper generally must be replaced. The zippers, furthermore, are subject to weathering conditions thereby causing the lifetime of the screen system to be of relatively short duration.

Most screens now in use do not provide for easy entrance into the garage and once access to the inside of the garage is obtained, one generally needs to go back outside in order to place the screen back in position.

During wet and stromy weather, therefore, one generally must expose oneself to the inclement weather at least once and more often twice in order to remove the screen and then put it back in place.

2. Description of the Prior Art An automobile screen is described in US. Pat. No. 1,744,177 issued Jan. 21, 1930 of Schuler. The screen is easily positioned in place or removed by a person inside the automobile however the screen cannot be readily placed in position from outside the automobile. The screen clearly is not designed for a garage entranceway or other large entranceways.

US. Pat. No. 1,693,209 issued Nov. 27, 1928 of Peterson et al. describes a screen adapted for use over windows. The screen is easily placed in position over a frame from the outside however the screen is not adapted for opening and closing both from the inside and the outside of the window.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a screen so as to protect against inscets and bugs and other annoying pests. It is another object of this invention to provide a screen which can with ease be detachably mounted on frames of entranceways and openings. It is yet another object of this invention to provide a screen which can be readily mounted from outside of an entranceway or opening and after detaching in order to obtain access to the protected area, readily secure the screen into place from inside the protected area. Still another object of the invention is to provide a screen that can be detachably secured to entranceways, such as, for example, entrances to garages of private homes, which screens will not interfere with the closing and opening of the regular door. Another object of this invention is to provide screens which can be easily and expeditiously partially opened and thereafter expeditiously and simply closed either from outside or inside the protected area. Still another object of the invention is to provide a flexible screen which can be folded away for simple storage. Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide screens which are inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

In accordance with this invention, a flexible detachable screen is provided said screen comprising a sheet of screening material, binding for upper and lower horizontal margins and vertical margins of the screening material, said binding comprising a strip of waterresistant flexible material folded ldngitudinally and disposed about the margins of said sheet in straddling relation thereto with side portions overlapping opposite faces of the sheet, said screen further comprising (1) weighted means within the folds of the lower horizontal binding, (2) fastening means for the vertical and upper horizontal binding whereby the screen can be detachably secured to companion fastening means secured to the frames of entranceways and openings and (3) extending inwardly from and trnasverse to at least one vertical binding and at least a portion of the upper horizontal binding closest to that vertical binding, a flap portion containing fastening means which can be detachably secured to companion fastening means located on the jambs of frames for entrances and openings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall view of the screen;

FIG. 2 is a portion of an entranceway illustrating the frames to which the screen of the invention can be detachably secured;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the general application of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the screen I comprising a sheet of mesh screening material 2, binding 3 for said screening material with the width of the lower horizontal binding 4 being of larger width than the vertical or upper horizontal binding, fastening means 5, top flap 6 and side flap 7. The lower horizontal binding contains means 12 to add weight to the screen and thereby maintain the bottom in place. Fastening means 13 located on lower bindng and the upper binding through to the frame permits the screen to be temporarily held up in order to allow for the ingress and outgress of an automobile. ln a preferred aspect of the invention, the screening material contains a zipper 8 so as to provide for a walk through without having to detach the screen from frames to which said screen is detachably secured.

FIG. 2 illustrates the frames 9 of an entranceway said frame comprising the outside frame 10 and jamb 11 upon which companion fastening means 5 are attached.

P16. 3 illustrates a preferred application of this invention. In accordance with this use, a screen covers the garage entranceway. Normally, the screen would completely enclose the entranceway thereby preventing annoying insects and bugs from entering the garage.

Although a preferred application, with respect to the screen, relates to enclosing garages, it should be understood that the terms entranceways and opening can include any entrance to an enclosed area for which it would be desirable to keep free from annoying pests such as porches, patios, terraces, balconies, summer houses, 'gazebos and the like.

The mesh screen material can be made of any suitable material. lllustrative of suitable materials are nylon, fibre glass, aluminum and the like. Preferably, the screening material would be nylon, fibre glass or the like since such materials are easily foldable and generally will not be adversely affected by harsh weather conditions.

The binding can be made of any suitable materials such as, for example, fabrics or plastics. Illustrative of the material are oilcloth, canvas, the various vinyl rensins or plastics, cloth and the like. The material should be flexible in order to allow the screen to be folded or rolled for easy storage and the materials should be preferably waterproof. The material, in the case of vinyl rensins or plastics, are preferably treated, so as to be able to withstand long exposure to sunlight. Such vinyl materials are well known art and are readily available in the market place.

Any suitable fastenings means can be readily employed in acordance with the invention. Typical of the fastening means that can be employed in this invention are studs, snap buttons, hooks and the like. In accordance with av preferred embodiment of the invention, socket type or snap fasteners are employed. The preference being based on their ease of manipulating by children and women.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the screen is of sufficient length whereby the lower horizontal portion of the binding will drape on the floor. In order that the screen remain positioned, it is desirable that the binding contain means for weighing it down. Through the employment of such weighing means crawling insects, bugs, worms and other undesirable pests will be prevented from entering protected areas. Suitable weight means are known in the art such as wood dowels, metal rods, hard rubber, plastic rods and the like.

Typically, garage entrances are approximately 7 feet in height therefore in accordance with an aspcet of this invention the height of the screen can be about 7 feet 3 inches. Garage entrances are of several standard widths. Typically, a garage entranceway is about 8, 9, l0, l2, l4, l5, 16 or 18 feet wide. In order to adequately protect the interior of the garage or other construction, the screen is desirably from 3 inches to 6 inches wider than the opening and preferably 6 inches wider. The binding, therefore should be from about l to about 3 inches wide. The width of the binding would be a function of the frame. Should the frame be a 1X3, it is desirable to position another 1X3 in a side by side relationship to the existing frame in order to give greater support to the screen.

Since the lower horizontal binding will drape on the floor in order to prevent crawling pests from gaining access to the protected area it is desirable that said binding be about 4 inches in width. Although the preferred dimensions for the screen including the binding have been listed, it should be understood that the binding can be wider or narrower.

Many modern garages attached to private homes do comprise a doorway other than the entrance for the auto, however, the garages for older homes and many modern homes compirse only the auto entranceway. The screens of this invention are especially useful with respect to the latter type garages.

In accordance with the invention, the flexible detachably secured screen is mounted to the frame of entrances, etc. through the use of snap buttons and the like. Access to the interior of the protected area is simply obtained by unfastening a number of the fastening means on one vertical side and raising the screen. Once inside the protected area, one can secure the screen into position by merely securing the fastening means on the flaps to the corresponding fastening means on the jamb. Should one deisre to bring through large objects such as an automobile, both vertical sides of the screen would be unfastened and the screen folded upwards and held in such position through the use of ties, hook and eyecombinations and the like. After driving the car into the protected area and lowering the screen, it can be secured in place by merely employing the flap fastening means. Accordingly, in an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, flaps with fastening means are located on both vertical sides. The ability to quickly amd partially detach the screen and thereafter secure the screen in place from inside the protected area is especially desirable during wet weather.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the mesh screen material will be provided with a zipper in the same plane as the mesh screen material. The zipper preferably would run horizontally from about one foot to two feet and then vertically from about 4 feet to 6 feet and horizontally so that when fully opened an accessway for individuals is available. When fully closed, the screen would once again prevent insects, pests, etc. from entering into the protected area. I

It is generally desirable in order to obtain adequate support and a snug fit of the screen to the garage or other enclosure that the fastening means he at least from about 12 to 15 inches apart. However, the fastening means can be spaced very close together such as about 6 inches apart or at a greater distance than 15 inches apart. For generally superior ease of use and operativeness with respect to keeping out undesirable pests the 12 inch distance is desirable.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

I. In a detachable flexible screen comprising a sheet of screening material binding for upper and lower horizontal margins and vertical margins of the screening material, said binding comprising a strip of waterresistant flexible material folded longitudinally and disposed about the margins of said sheet in straddling relation thereto with side portions overlapping opposite faces of the sheet, the improvement comprising (1) weighted means within the folds of the lower horizontal binding, (2) fastening means for the vertical and upper horizontal binding whereby the screen can be detachably secured to companion fastening means secured to the frames of entrances and openings and (3) extending inwardly from and transverse to at least one vertical binding and as least a portion of the upper horizontal binding closest to that vertical binding, a flap portion containing fastening means which can be detachably secured to companion fastening means located on the jambs of frames for entrances and openings.

2. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 1 wherein said screen is of sufficient length and width so as to completely cover the opening of a garage and have a portion of the lower binding draped on the floor.

3. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 2 wherein said upper horizontal and vertical binding is about 3 inches wide, siad lower horizontal binding is at least about 4 inches wide and said fastening means are snap fasteners spaced from about 12 to about 15 inches apart.

4. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 2 said screen being at least about 7 feet 3 inches in length.

5. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 4 wherein the screen is at least about from 3 to about 6 inches wider than the opening of a garage.

6. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 1 wherein the weighted means is a rod.

7. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 2 comprising means for hanging the lower horizontal binding from companion means secured to the frames of 21 garage opening thereby allowing the ingress of a car when the screen is folded upward and firmly held in place.

8. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 1 wherein the binding is vinyl.

9. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 2 further comprising a zipper in the same plane of the screening material whereby when the zipper is opened an entranceway is formed in the screen.

10. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 1 wherein said screening material is one of fiberglass.

11. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 1 wherein said flap extends the full length of the vertical sides and the upper horizontal side.

12. In a detachable screen of claim 1 wherein the screening material is nylon.

13. In a detachable screen of claim 1 wherein the screening material is aluminum. 

1. In a detachable flexible screen comprising a sheet of screening material binding for upper and lower horizontal margins and vertical margins of the screening material, said binding comprising a strip of water-resistant flexible material folded longitudinally and disposed about the margins of said sheet in straddling relation thereto with side portions overlapping opposite faces of the sheet, the improvement comprising (1) weighted means within the folds of the lower horizontal binding, (2) fastening means for the vertical and upper horizontal binding whereby the screen can be detachably secured to companion fastening means secured to the frames of entrances and openings and (3) extending inwardly from and transverse to at least one vertical binding and as least a portion of the upper horizontal binding closest to that vertical binding, a flap portion containing fastening means which can be detachably secured to companion fastening means located on the jambs of frames for entrances and openings.
 2. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 1 wherein said screen is of sufficient length and width so as to completely cover the opening of a garage and have a portion of the lower binding draped on the floor.
 3. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 2 wherein said upper horizontal and vertical binding is about 3 inches wide, said lower horizontal binding is at least about 4 inches wide and said fastening means are snap fasteners spaced from abOut 12 to about 15 inches apart.
 4. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 2 said screen being at least about 7 feet 3 inches in length.
 5. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 4 wherein the screen is at least about from 3 to about 6 inches wider than the opening of a garage.
 6. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 1 wherein the weighted means is a rod.
 7. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 2 comprising means for hanging the lower horizontal binding from companion means secured to the frames of a garage opening thereby allowing the ingress of a car when the screen is folded upward and firmly held in place.
 8. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 1 wherein the binding is vinyl.
 9. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 2 further comprising a zipper in the same plane of the screening material whereby when the zipper is opened an entranceway is formed in the screen.
 10. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 1 wherein said screening material is one of fiberglass.
 11. In a detachable flexible screen of claim 1 wherein said flap extends the full length of the vertical sides and the upper horizontal side.
 12. In a detachable screen of claim 1 wherein the screening material is nylon.
 13. In a detachable screen of claim 1 wherein the screening material is aluminum. 